Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Aim: To study the impact of organizational factors on nurses� knowledge, behavior and compliance concerning hygiene management and infection prevention in nursing homes. Background: The spread of nosocomial infections is a cause of morbidity and mortality. Methods: Mixed-methods study with concurrent triangulation strategy. 165 nurses and 27 nursing managers from nursing homes in Germany participated in survey and interviews. Results: Most nurses and nursing managers held knowledge of effective hand hygiene measures. Hygiene standards and equipment were all available but compliance to standards also depended on availability in the immediate work area. Nursing managers did not reflect on the impact of their own consistent role modeling for nurses regarding infection prevention behaviors. Conclusion: Improved knowledge through hygiene training is unlikely to change infection prevention behavior in nursing homes if not accompanied by a shared attitude towards compliance with hygiene standards and consistent role modeling by nursing managers.

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